HEALTH FACTS THAT MAKE YOU GO “HMMMMMM!”

Compiled by Debbie Markel, CH, CNHP

« Breast-fed babies' IQs are 3 to 5 points higher than that of formula-fed babies...the longer a baby is breast-fed, the greater the IQ benefits.

« A study of 100 children with upper respiratory infections revealed that the active ingredients in cough medicines (dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine) were no better than a placebo (syrup without the drugs).

 « “Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are believed to be the leading cause of death in the United States...” ~ Lasser et al, Journal of the American Medical Association, 287(17):2215-2220.  May 1, 2002.

« In 2001, the FDA received 1,214 of adverse events (which may not necessarily be caused by the product) regarding dietary supplements or herbs.  Comparatively, the FDA received more than 300,000 adverse reports about drugs.

« “Walking is man's best medicine.” ~ Hippocrates (The Father of Modern Medicine, c.460-400 BC)

 « Herbs are used by over 70% of the world as their primary medical treatment. (from Herbal Medicine Fundamentals by American Herbalists Guild)

« The United States National Research Council states that 60 percent of the cancer incidence in women is related to diet.

« According to the World Health Organization (2001), the United States is rated number 37 out of the top 50 healthiest countries.  Some of the countries healthier than ours include France (#1), Andorra (#4), Oman (#8), Columbia (#22) and Costa Rica (#36). 

« You’re 268 times more likely to get food poisoning and 255 times more likely to react to a prescription OR over the counter drug than you are to have an adverse reaction to a dietary supplement or herb.  (From S.T.O.P. at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration)

« A team at Tata Memorial Hospital in India found a strong correlation between the rise in per capita consumption of carbonated soft drinks in the past 50 years and a documented increase in rates of esophageal cancer in the United States .

« Splenda is made by chlorinating sugar & changing its molecular structure.  No long-term studies have ever been done on its safety.

« Each year, medication errors cause at least 400,000 preventable injuries and deaths in hospitals, more than 800,000 in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and more than 530,000 among Medicare beneficiaries treated in outpatient settings (Maugh, Los Angeles Times, 7/21);

« Confusing drug labels and packaging cause one-quarter to one-third of all medication errors and contribute to 30% of all medication-error deaths (Wang, Wall Street Journal, 7/21);

« More than half of patients do not take medications exactly as prescribed ( Weise , USA Today, 7/21);

« Hospitals and long-term care facilities typically do not report medication errors to patients or their family members unless the errors result in injury or death; and

« At least one-quarter of injuries caused by medication errors are clearly preventable.

« At least 1.5 million U.S. residents are harmed or killed each year because of medication errors

« A 2002 survey found that more than 80 percent of the doctors on panels that write clinical practice guidelines had financial ties to drug makers.

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